Oral Implant Placement System and Method

ABSTRACT

An oral implant system and method. The system comprises a positioning tool, a transfer band, a transfer screw and a transfer drill to provide for accurate placement of a dental implant parallel to other implants and or existing teeth and at predetermined depths. A model is made of the patient&#39;s maxilla and mandible. The model is marked for implant position, depth and size. Holes are drilled in the model for implant analogs using the positioning tool. The analogs are installed into the model using the positioning tool and a surveyor. Transfer bands are coupled to the analogs and a surgical stent portion is fabricated. The surgical stent is fitted to the patient&#39;s occlusion, secured, and then utilized to accurately drill apertures into the patient&#39;s maxilla or mandible. The implants are installed into the apertures and the surgical stent is removed. A final restoration is secured to the implants.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationNo. 12/428,450, filed Apr. 22, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application No. 12/148,996, filed Apr. 24, 2008; U.S. patentapplication No. 11/807, 360, filed May 29, 2007; U.S. patent applicationNo. 11/807,366, filed May 29, 2007; U.S. patent application No. 11/807,377, filed May 29, 2007; and U.S. patent application No. 11/975,586,filed Oct. 22, 2007, the entire contents of each being expresslyincorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to dental implants, inparticular to a system and method for positioning and installing dentalimplants in a patient's mouth.

BACKGROUND

Teeth are lost for a variety reasons, such as tooth decay, root canalfailure, periodontitis (gum disease), trauma to the mouth, excessivewear and tear, and congenital defects. Patients who have lost teeth areoften reluctant to smile or talk. Additionally, biting irregularitiescaused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits. Thiscan lead to secondary health problems, such as malnutrition.

Regardless of the nature of problems related to tooth loss, dentalimplants may provide a simple remedy with proven results. Dentalimplants are prosthetic (i.e., artificial) tooth replacements that areused to counter tooth loss. Dental implants are stronger and moredurable than their restorative counterparts (i.e., dentures), and offera permanent solution to tooth loss. Additionally, implants may be usedin conjunction with other restorative procedures for maximumeffectiveness. For example, a single implant can serve to support acrown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used tosupport a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth,and can be used with dentures to increase stability and reduce gumtissue irritation.

Dental implant stents and other devices presently used by surgeons toplace dental implants in a patient's mouth do not have features thatallow the surgeons to place a dental implant parallel to other implantsand/or existing teeth and at precise, predetermined depths within thearch of the mandible or maxilla. A similar drawback occurs with dentalimplants used as supporting members for the development of a dentalprosthesis. When dental implants are not placed parallel to other dentalimplants, final restoration prostheses are much more difficult tomanufacture and the fit and longevity of a final restoration is reduced.

Present surgical dental implant stents also lack features that allowsurgeons to place a dental implant at a predetermined depth decided uponby the surgeon or allow a dental lab technician to manufacture asurgical dental implant stent that can be used to fabricate the finaldental implant restoration that will be reliably retained in thepatient's mouth. When surgeons have no means to accurately form anaperture to place a dental implant at a predetermined depth, thesurgeons when making this aperture may pass through the bone of themandible or maxilla, necessitating the location of a new site as well asrestoring the damaged area. This often increases the amount of timerequired for the patient to heal and recover from the procedure.

Current surgical dental implant stents also lack features that wouldallow a surgeon to immediately place a final dental implant restoration.In fact, current dental implant stents normally take weeks to completedue to the trial-and-error fabrication process inherent to presentsystems. There is a need for a way to more accurately position oralimplants in a patient's mouth and to reduce the amount of time requiredto produce and install them.

SUMMARY

An oral implant system and method are disclosed according to anembodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a positioningtool, a transfer band, a transfer screw and a transfer drill, all usedin cooperation to provide for the accurate placement of a dental implantparallel to other implants and or existing teeth and at predetermineddepths. Impressions are made of the patient's mouth and a model is madeof the patient's maxilla and mandible. The model is marked for implantposition, depth and size on either the maxilla or the mandible.Apertures are drilled into the model using the positioning tool, thenanalogs are installed into the model using the positioning tool and asurveyor. A final restoration prosthetic is then fabricated. Transferbands are coupled to the analogs with transfer screws and a lowersurgical stent portion conforming to the patient's mandible isfabricated. An upper surgical stent portion conforming to the patient'smaxilla is also fabricated. The finished surgical stent, comprising thelower and upper stent portions, is fitted to the patient's occlusion andsecured. A transfer drill is rotated and slidably inserted throughchamfered openings in the transfer bands to drill apertures into thepatient's maxilla or mandible as appropriate, the apertures having apredetermined position and depth. Implants are installed into theapertures and the surgical stent is removed. Finally, the finishedrestoration prosthetic is secured to the implants.

One embodiment of the present invention may be an oral implant placementsystem comprising a surgical stent having a first portion and adetachable second portion, the first and second portions being sized andshaped to conform to an occlusion in a select region of a patient'smouth. At least one generally cylindrical transfer band is embedded inthe first surgical stent portion, the transfer band having first andsecond opposing generally planar ends and an opening extending betweenthe ends, the opening including an interior chamfer proximate the secondend. The system may include a transfer drill having a chamfered shankportion sized and shaped to be slidably received by the opening of thetransfer band. The surgical stent is positioned in the patient's mouthin conformance with the occlusion and the first surgical stent portionis secured, the second planar end of the transfer band being adjacentthe region of the patient's mouth selected for the installation of adental implant. The second surgical stent portion is detached after thefirst surgical stent portion is secured. The transfer drill is rotatedand slidably inserted into the opening of the transfer band to drill anaperture in the region of the patient's mouth selected for theinstallation of a dental implant, the location, orientation and depth ofthe aperture being controlled by the chamfered shank of the transferdrill in cooperation with the mating interior chamfer of the transferband. Finally, an implant is installed into the aperture at thepredetermined location, orientation and depth.

Another embodiment of the present invention may be a method for placingan oral implant. The method may include the steps of sizing and shapinga first portion and a second portion of a surgical stent to conform toan occlusion in a select region of a patient's mouth. At least onegenerally cylindrical transfer band is embedded in the first surgicalstent portion, the transfer band having first and second opposinggenerally planar ends and an opening extending between the ends, theopening including an interior chamfer proximate the second end. Atransfer drill is provided, the transfer drill having a chamfered shankportion sized and shaped to be slidably received by the opening of thetransfer band. The surgical stent is positioned in the patient's mouthin conformance with the occlusion and securing first surgical stentportion, the second planar end of the transfer band being adjacent theregion of the patient's mouth selected for the installation of a dentalimplant. The second surgical stent portion is detached after the firstsurgical stent portion is secured. The transfer drill is rotated andslidably inserted into the opening of the transfer band to drill anaperture in the region of the patient's mouth selected for theinstallation of a dental implant, the location, orientation and depth ofthe aperture being controlled by the chamfered shank of the transferdrill in cooperation with the mating interior chamfer of the transferband. Finally, an implant is installed into the aperture at thepredetermined location, orientation and depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent tothose skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from readingthe specification and claims with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing a process for making and installingoral implants according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section of a dental implant analog placed in a stonemodel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and end views respectively of a positioningtool according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D are isometric, end, side and sectional viewsrespectively of a transfer band according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are side, end and sectional views respectively of atransfer screw according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the transfer band of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D beingassembled to an analog set into a model with the transfer screw of FIGS.5A, 5B and 5C according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows the components of FIG. 6 in an assembled condition;

FIG. 8 shows details of a lower portion of a surgical stent according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows details of an upper portion of a surgical stent accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows the lower and upper surgical stent portions of FIGS. 8 and9 placed in the mouth of a patient at the implant position according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows the stent of FIG. 10 in place at the implant position withthe upper stent portion removed;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are side and end views respectively of a transferdrill according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 shows an aperture aligned to be drilled into a bone structure ofa patient according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows an implant aligned to be installed into the aperture ofFIG. 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows the implant assembly of FIG. 14 in an installed conditionin a patient's mouth;

FIG. 16 shows a final restoration prosthetic joined to the implant ofFIG. 15;

FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D are perspective, front plan, side plan, andsectional views respectively of a guide insert according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram detailing sub-steps of a step for drillinginto a bone of a patient according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 19 shows the guide insert of FIGS. 17A-17D placed into a transferband and a pilot drill being aligned with a pilot aperture of the guideinsert;

FIG. 20 shows a pilot drill drilling a pilot opening in a patient bone;and

FIGS. 21A and 21B show a lower surgical stent portion and a patientmouth after the pilot opening of FIG. 20 has been drilled and the guideinsert of FIGS. 17A-17D has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the discussion that follows, like reference numerals are used torefer to like structures in the various figures.

The general arrangement of a process for producing an oral implant isshown in FIG. 1. Reference should be made to this figure in combinationwith other figures referred to in the discussion that follows.

At step s100 a set of impressions are made of the maxilla and/ormandible of a patient's mouth, particularly the patient's dental arch inthe region of the patient's mouth selected for the installation of oneor more dental implants. The object of making an impression is toaccurately relate an analog of the implant or implant abutment to otherstructures in the dental arch. A malleable impression material istypically pressed into a tray, and the tray is then inserted in thepatient's mouth. The patient bites into the impression material tocreate an impression of his or her maxilla and/or mandible in thematerial. Typical impression materials may include, without limitation,alginate, polyvinyl and rubber.

With reference to FIG. 2, at step s102, after the impression materialsets it is used as a mold to form a laboratory “stone” dental model 10of the patient's mouth by pouring plaster or the like into the mold,which hardens and sets to form a model of the patient's maxilla and/ormandible. Once hardened, the stone model 10 is marked to indicate theposition, depth and size of the implant, as at step s104.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B together, a positioning tool 12 isinstalled into a conventional dental surveyor 14. The marked stone model10 is then placed onto a level surveyor's table 16 such as the type usedin making dental “partials” and a ridge 18 of the model (whichrepresents the patient's dental arch) is oriented generally level withrespect to the surveyor's table. At step s106 holes are drilled intoridge 18. Implant analogs 20 are marked for the appropriate depth, theninstalled into model 10 such that the surface of ridge 18 is generallyeven with the mark, as at s108. By using surveyor 14 and positioningtool 12 as a tooling fixture implant analogs 20 can be placed into model10 and oriented in parallel with each other with relative precision. Ascan be seen in FIG. 2, interior threads of analogs 20 are matinglycoupled to exterior threads of positioning tool 12, the positioning tooland surveyor 14 cooperating to control the placement of the analogs to apredetermined location, orientation and depth within model 10.

At step s110 model 10 is placed on a conventional dental articulator(not shown) configured to hold the model. The articulator is adjustedfor the characteristics of the patient's mouth and provides a mechanicalmeans to duplicate the patient's jaw movements and teeth.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, at step s112 conventional waxingsleeves (not shown) are screwed into the interior threads of analogs 20after removal of positioning tool 12 therefrom. At step s114 a finalrestoration is fabricated using a conventional lost-wax techniquewherein a wax or acrylic bar is made using the waxing sleeves. The waxor acrylic bar is used to cast a metal bar, such as at 58 (FIG. 16).Acrylic prosthetic teeth appropriate for the implant are waxed to themetal bar. The wax is then processed into acrylic using a conventionallost-wax process, completing the final restoration prosthetic.

At step s116 the final restoration prosthetic is placed into aconventional dental duplicating container or “flask” (not shown). Dentalflasks are used in the production of permanent dental parts which arefixedly retained in the mouth, such as implants. The dental parts aretypically are made from acrylic resins, such as methyl methacrylatepolymers or copolymers. The acrylic resin is processed in brass flasksfor compression molding of the acrylic resin into the desiredconfiguration of the prosthetic dental device while the acrylic resin isin a putty or dough-like stage. The final restoration prosthetic isduplicated and saved for later use.

With reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, 5A-5C, 6 and 7 together a transfer band22 is assembled to each of analogs 20 with a transfer screw 24 at steps118, as shown in FIG. 6. Each transfer band 22 is secured to acorresponding analog 20 with a transfer screw 24 at step s120, as shownin FIG. 7, a chamfered shank portion 25 of the transfer screw beingreceived by an opening 27 of the band until it mates with a chamferedportion 29 within the band.

With reference to FIG. 8, at step s122 a malleable acrylic material isapplied to model 10 to form a lower surgical stent portion 26, theacrylic material covering bands 22. Lower surgical stent portion 26preferably covers substantially all of ridge 18 of model 10, extendingproximate a set of peripheries 28 of the model.

At step s124 a pair of posts 30 are installed into acrylic material oflower surgical stent portion 26, as shown in FIG. 8. The acrylicmaterial of lower portion 26 is then hardened using any processappropriate to the select material, such as baking and light-curing withultraviolet (UV) or visible light.

With reference to FIG. 9, at step s126 transfer screws 24 are removedfrom bands 22 and “O-rings” 32 are placed onto posts 30. Then, using thedental duplicating flask of step s116 and the impressions of steps s100and s102 a pourable or cold-cure acrylic material is applied to lowersurgical stent portion 26, forming an upper surgical stent portion 34opposing the lower portion. That is, if lower surgical stent portion 26represents the patient's maxilla, upper surgical stent portion 34represents the patient's mandible and vice versa. Together, lowerportion 26 and upper portion 34 form an accurate representation of thepatient's occlusion in the region of the patient's mouth selected forthe installation of one or more dental implants. The acrylic material ofupper surgical stent portion 34 is then hardened using any processappropriate to the select material, such as cold-curing, forming thecomplete surgical stent 36 of step s128. Lower surgical stent portion 26and upper surgical stent portion 34 are detachably coupled together byposts 30, which also serve as registration points aiding to align thelower and upper surgical stent portions.

With reference to FIG. 10, at step s130 surgical stent 36 is placed intothe mouth 38 of the patient, aligned according to the patient'socclusion, and secured to the patient's maxilla and/or mandible in anydesirable manner, such as sutures. Once stent 36 is secured upperportion 34 is detached from lower portion 26, exposing transfer bands22, as at step s132 and shown in FIG. 11.

With reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B and 13, at step s134 a transfer drill40 is rotated and slidably inserted into opening 27 of transfer band 22to drill an aperture 42 into the patient's bone 43. The position and thedepth of the transfer drill's penetration into bone 43 is controlled bychamfered portion 29 of opening 27 of transfer band 22, whichcorresponds to the size and shape of a chamfered portion 44 of a shank46 of the transfer drill 40. This process is repeated for each transferband 22. Although a particular embodiment of transfer drill 40 is shownin FIGS. 12A and 12B various sizes, shapes and forms of transfer drillshaving a chamfered portion 44 of a shank 46 are envisioned within thescope of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, at step s136 a conventional implant48 is installed into bone 43 through aperture 42 using a correspondingconventional placement appliance 50, external threads of the placementappliance being coupled to internal threads of the implant. Thelocation, orientation and depth of the implant 48 with respect to bone43 of mouth 38 is controlled by chamfered portion 29 of opening 27 oftransfer band 22, this chamfered opening corresponding to the size andshape of a chamfered portion 51 of a shank 52 of the placement appliance50. Once all of implants 48 are installed into corresponding apertures42 lower portion 26 is removed at step s138.

With reference to FIG. 16, at step s140 the final restoration 54 iscoupled to implants 48 and secured thereto with implant screws 56extending through the final restoration and into the implants. As alsoshown in FIG. 16, final restoration 54 comprises a bar 58, an acrylicbase portion 60 and prosthetic teeth 62.

In some embodiments of the present invention any or all of transfer band22, transfer screw 24 and transfer drill 40 may have identifying marksindicating particular characteristics, such as size and drilling depth,among others. The identifying marks may be one or more of lettering,numbering, symbols and colors. The identifying marks enable a user tomatch up compatible transfer bands 22, transfer screws 24 and transferdrills 40 for a given implantation procedure.

As previously noted, the surgical stent 36 comprises lower surgicalstent portion 26 and upper surgical stent portion 34, the lower andupper surgical stents conforming to the patient's lower and upperdentition (maxilla and/or mandible). Accordingly, the patient'socclusion can be precisely matched with the result that the finalrestoration prosthetic 54 ultimately coupled to the installed implants48 will likewise be precisely matched to the occlusion.

An important advantage of the present invention is the ability toprovide an “immediate load” of final restoration prosthetic 54. That is,final restoration prosthetic 54 may be coupled to implants 48immediately after the implants are installed. This procedure ispreferable to current methods which typically require a number ofprocedures and medical office visits, which are time-consuming,sometimes traumatic, and inconvenient for the patient. Of course, oneskilled in the art will recognize that the final restoration prosthetic54 may be coupled to implants 48 some time after the implants areinstalled and the post-operative healing process is underway orcomplete, as may be preferable to some dental practitioners.

It should also be noted that the system and method described herein isscalable. Thus, final restoration prosthetic 54 may comprise a singleprosthetic tooth 62, a bridge comprising several prosthetic teeth oreven a complete appliance replacing all the teeth of the maxilla ormandible.

The foregoing discussion primarily addresses the installation ofimplants 48 into the mandible of a patient. However, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the process is equallyapplicable to the installation of implants 48 into the maxilla, withinthe scope of the invention.

The general arrangement of a guide insert 70 is shown in FIGS. 17Athrough 17D according to another embodiment of the present invention.Guide insert 70 includes a slotted portion 72, an outer diameter 74, achamfered portion 76, and a pilot aperture 78 extending through anelongate axis of the guide insert.

Guide insert 70 may optionally be utilized at step s134 (FIG. 1) of theabove-discussed process in one embodiment of the present invention.Details of guide insert 70 in use are provided in the followingparagraphs.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 17A through 21B, at sub-step s134 a aguide insert 70 is placed into opening 27 of a transfer band 22 suchthat chamfered portion 76 of the guide insert contacts chamfered opening29 of the opening of the transfer band.

At sub-step s134 b a pilot drill 80 is rotatably and slidably insertedinto pilot aperture 78 of guide insert 70 to drill a pilot opening 82into the patient's bone 43 (FIG. 19). The position of a pilot drill bitportion 84 of pilot drill 80 with respect to the patient's bone 43 isclosely controlled by aperture 78, which is slightly larger in diameterthan the bit portion. In addition, aperture 78 limits lateral movementand wobble of bit portion 84 while drilling. The depth of penetration ofbit portion 84 into bone 43 is controlled by the length by which pilotdrill bit portion 84 extends from a shank portion 86 of the pilot drill.As can be seen in FIG. 20, the maximum penetration of bit portion 84into bone 43 is limited by shank portion 86 contacting guide insert 70.

At sub-step s134 c guide insert 70 is removed from transfer band 22(FIGS. 21A, 21B).

With reference again to FIGS. 12A, 12B and 13, at sub-step s134 d atransfer drill 40 is rotatably and slidably inserted into opening 27 oftransfer band 22 to drill into pilot opening 82, forming an aperture 42in the patient's bone 43. The position and the depth of the transferdrill's penetration into bone 43 is further controlled by chamferedportion 29 of opening 27 of transfer band 22, which corresponds to thesize and shape of a chamfered portion 44 of a shank 46 of the transferdrill 40.

In one embodiment of the present invention step s134 of FIG. 1 iscompleted by repeating sub-steps s134 a-s134 d for each transfer band22.

Although a particular embodiment of pilot drill 80 is shown in FIGS. 19and 20 it is understood that various sizes, shapes and forms of pilotdrills are envisioned within the scope of the invention.

While this invention has been shown and described with respect to adetailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that changes in form and detail thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims of the invention.

1. An oral implant placement system, comprising: a surgical stentcomprising a first portion and a detachable second portion, the firstand second portions being sized and shaped to conform to an occlusion ina select region of a patient's mouth; at least one generally cylindricaltransfer band embedded in the first surgical stent portion, the transferband having first and second opposing generally planar ends and anopening extending between the ends, the opening including a chamferproximate the second end; a generally cylindrical guide insert having apilot aperture therethrough, the guide insert being sized and shaped tobe removably received by the opening of the transfer band; a pilotdrill; and a transfer drill having a chamfered shank portion sized andshaped to be slidably received by the opening of the transfer band, thesurgical stent being positioned in the patient's mouth in conformancewith the occlusion and the first surgical stent portion being secured,the second planar end of the transfer band being adjacent the region ofthe patient's mouth selected for the installation of a dental implant,the second surgical stent portion being detached after the firstsurgical stent portion is secured, the guide insert being removablyreceived by the opening of the transfer band, the pilot drill beingrotatably and slidably inserted through the pilot aperture to drill apilot opening in the region of the patient's mouth selected for theinstallation of a dental implant, the pilot drill and the guide insertbeing subsequently removed, the transfer drill being rotatably andslidably inserted into the opening of the transfer band to drill anaperture in the region of the patient's mouth selected for theinstallation of a dental implant, the location, orientation and depth ofthe aperture being controlled by the shank of the transfer drill incooperation with the opening of the transfer band and being guided bythe pilot opening, and an implant being installed into the aperture atthe predetermined location, orientation and depth.
 2. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 1, further comprising a model made fromimpressions of the patient's maxilla and mandible, the model having asize and shape conforming to the occlusion of a select patient in aregion of the patient's mouth selected for the installation of a dentalimplant, the model being used to form the surgical stent.
 3. The oralimplant placement system of claim 2, further comprising: a dentalsurveyor; a positioning tool configured to be coupled to the dentalsurveyor; and an implant analog, the positioning tool being coupled tothe implant analog to hold the implant analog at a predeterminedlocation and orientation, the analog being installed into the model to apredetermined depth.
 4. The oral implant placement system of claim 3wherein at least one of the positioning tool, transfer drill andtransfer band include identifying marks indicating particularcharacteristics.
 5. The oral implant positioning system of claim 4wherein the analog is coupled to the model at a predetermined location,orientation and depth corresponding to the location, orientation anddepth of the implant to be installed in the patient's mouth.
 6. The oralimplant positioning system of claim 1, further comprising a pair ofposts embedded in the first surgical stent portion and extending intothe second surgical stent portion, the posts aiding to align the firstand second surgical stent portions and further acting to detachablycouple the first and second surgical stent portions together.
 7. Theoral implant positioning system of claim 6 wherein the posts eachfurther include an O-ring coupled thereto.
 8. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 1 wherein the first and second surgicalstent portions are made from an acrylic material.
 9. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 8 wherein the first surgical stent portionis made from a light-curable acrylic material.
 10. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 8 wherein the second surgical stent portionis made from a cold-curable acrylic material.
 11. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 1 wherein the first surgical stent portionis secured with sutures.
 12. The oral implant positioning system ofclaim 1, further comprising a final restoration coupled to the implant.13. The oral implant positioning system of claim 12 wherein the finalrestoration comprises a single prosthetic tooth.
 14. The oral implantpositioning system of claim 12 wherein the final restoration comprises aplurality of prosthetic teeth.
 15. The oral implant positioning systemof claim 1 wherein the implant is installed into the patient's mandible.16. The oral implant positioning system of claim 1 wherein the implantis installed into the patient's maxilla.
 17. A method for placing anoral implant, comprising the steps of: sizing and shaping a firstportion and a second portion of a surgical stent to conform to anocclusion in a select region of a patient's mouth; embedding at leastone generally cylindrical transfer band in the first surgical stentportion, the transfer band having first and second opposing generallyplanar ends and an opening extending between the ends, the openingincluding a chamfer proximate the second end; providing a generallycylindrical guide insert having a pilot aperture therethrough, the guideinsert being sized and shaped to be removably received by the opening ofthe transfer band; providing a pilot drill; providing a transfer drillhaving a chamfered shank portion sized and shaped to be slidablyreceived by the opening of the transfer band; positioning the surgicalstent in the patient's mouth at a predetermined location in conformancewith the occlusion and securing first surgical stent portion, the secondplanar end of the transfer band being adjacent the region of thepatient's mouth selected for the installation of a dental implant;detaching the second surgical stent portion after the first surgicalstent portion is secured; placing the guide insert into the opening ofthe transfer band; rotatably and slidably inserting the pilot drillthrough the pilot aperture and drilling a pilot opening in the region ofthe patient's mouth selected for the installation of a dental implant;removing the pilot drill from the insert guide; removing the insertguide from the transfer band; rotatably and slidably inserting thetransfer drill into the opening of the transfer band to drill anaperture at a predetermined location of the patient's mouth selected forthe installation of a dental implant, the location, orientation anddepth of the aperture being controlled by the shank of the transferdrill in cooperation with the opening of the transfer band and beingguided by the pilot opening; and installing an implant into the apertureat the predetermined location, orientation and depth.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising the step of making a model from impressionsof the patient's maxilla and mandible, the model having a size and shapeconforming to the occlusion of a select patient in a region of thepatient's mouth selected for the installation of a dental implant, themodel being used to form the surgical stent.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising the steps of: providing a dental surveyor; coupling apositioning tool to the dental surveyor; coupling an implant analog tothe dental surveyor to hold the implant analog at a predeterminedlocation and orientation; and installing the implant analog into themodel to a predetermined depth.
 20. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising the step of placing identifying marks on at least one of thepositioning tool, transfer drill and transfer band, the identifyingmarks indicating particular characteristics.